Vending-machine.



No, 740,37. Y' PATENTED SHIFT. 29, 1903. H. J. SHALLER.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPMGATIVON FILED AUG. 1, 1901.

No Munn.

UNrrnD STATES Patentes september :29, l190e.

HARRY J. SHALLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VENDING- MAoHiNE.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 740,374, dated September 29, 1903. Applies@ tied August 1, 1901. serai No. 70.480. (NU man.)

T @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. SHALLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 622 Locust street, St; Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot" this specification, in Which- Figure l is a perspective View of the present apparatus. Fig. 2 is au end elevation of the same with the end'wall of the casing removed and the lid cut on the line 2 2 of Fig. 5, the 'parts beingillustrated in their normal locking positions and the apparatus being indicated as attached to a support. Fig. 3 is a view generally similar Vto Fig. 2, but illustrating the parts in their unlocking positions. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional-elevation looking from the front of theapparatus, the lefthand compartment shown in said ligure having the section taken on the lineX Xof Fig. 2 and the right-hand compartment having the section taken on the line ZZ of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partlyin section, the greater portion of one of `the lids being broken away and a portion of the package shown in the compartment provided with said broken lid being broken away. Fig. 6 is an end elevation, partly in section, illustrating the manner of relocking the lid of a compartment and of releasing the coin-retaining operating-lever. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the operatinglever, showin g the side opposite to that'shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the gravity locking-dog for controlling. the lid-latch, and Fig. 9 is a view of thetool usedl for certain purposes in connection with the apparatus.

This invention relates to vending apparatus, and more particularly to .such apparatus designed to be attached to the backs of theaterchairs and the like and to be operated through the medium of a deposited coin.

My object is to provide a neat apparatus of the nature indicated'simple in construction and elticient in operation.

' To this end and also to improve generally upon devices of the nature of the present my invention consists in the various matters here- ;'inafter described and claimed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A represents a box-like receptacle 'which is preferably divided into a series of compartments by means ofthe partition-walls a, each compartment being closed at its top by a separate lid 0.', which is preferably held closed against the action of a suitable spring a2, whereby when a lid is unlocked it is automatically thrown into open position. Across the package is in stored position with the lid of the compartment closed andlocked it compresses said spring and restsin the Vposition illustrated by full lines in Fig. 4. When, however, the lid is opened, the said spring raises the package a sufficient distance above the walls of the compartment to permit it to be grasped by the purchaser.

A catch a5 is provided upon each lid, at the forward corner thereof, which when the lid is closed lies over the space containing the operating mechanism, and said catch is 'here shown as a depending hook which enters the said space. When the lid is closed, this hook is engaged by a nose b upon a latch-lever B, suitably pivoted to the plate a3. An'operating-lever C is also pivotally connected to said plate, said lever having an extension or nger-piece c, which projects through the space between the wall and plate, which lie at the sides of the operating members, and through a suitable slot a. in the compartment-lid to a point above said lid, whereby said finger-piece can be engaged and operated by the purchaser. The said operating-leverand the latchlever lie in diderent planes, as illustrated in Fig. 4, whereby the rocking of said operatinglever upon its pivot does not bring it into engagement with the latch-lever. As will be ICO more fullj1 hereinafter described, however, the operating-lever is so constructed that a deposited coin or token X is supported by it at its side and in the plane of the said latch, whereby when, after a coin has been deposited, the said operating-lever is thrown the coin engages the latch, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and throws the same out of engagement with the lid-hook, thus permitting the lid to be thrown open by the before-described spring d2.

In order to prevent operation of the latch by merely inserting a wire or the like through the coin-slot a7 in the lid, and thereby forcing the latch out of locking position, there is provided a gravity locking-dog D. This dog is here shown as a plate d, pivoted upon the wall-plate a3 to lie at the side of the latch, said plate having a lug d', which when the dog is in lower normal position lies just back of the latch and in its path of movement, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby rocking of said latch on its pivot is prevented. The downward Y movement of the dog can be limited in any suitable manner, that herein shown being by engagement of the said lug with a shoulder e, formed in the guide-strip E. The said latchlever B and locking-dog D thus constitute latch members, which coperate to securely lock the compartment-lid. The plate d of said dog lies in the plane of the operating-lever, and ata suitable point said operating-lever is provided with a cam-shoulder c', which when thelever is thrown forwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 3, engages the said locking-dog and causes its free end to ride upwardly upon the cam, thus carrying the lug d into a position opposite a notch b, formed in the rear edge of the latch B, whereby unlocking movement of said latch is permitted. The lug d lies in the path of the shoulder below the notch b', and thus locks said latch in position. In the operation of the parts the latch B and the locking-dog D are substantially simultaneously engaged and operated bythe coin and the cam-shoulder, respectively;

Preferably each plate 0.3 has at its top an angle-strip as, which lies above and protects the latch and its locking-dog, and as said strip abuts against the neighboring partitionwall it also serves to hold the plate 0,3 properly spaced. The end of the latch B is so placed with relation to the end wall of the coin-slot and the lower end of the guide E that a straight wire or other implement inserted through said slot cannot engage and operate the latch.

The operating-lever C lies flat against the end or partition wall, as the case may be, and has in its lower edge a notch c2, which receives a pin a, projecting from the plate 0,3, the lever being thus pivoted upon said pin, but capable of being withdrawn vertically /from the casing when the lid is open. At the rear edge of the lever and that portion of its front edge which lies below the latch B are provided angle strips or flanges c5, which form a seat for the deposited coin H, the top edge of the forward fla-nge being preferably beveled downwardly and rearwardly, as at c4, to accommodate the coin. These flanges extend to the plate d3, and thus also serve to hold the lever properly spaced. A deposited coin of the proper size (say a five-cent piece) therefore rests upon the forward flange c3 and against the rear ange, and is thus supported upon and movable with the lever. Any coin of smaller diameter than that designed to operate the apparatus will merely fall past the seat for the proper coin, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, this smaller coin being marked Z. In order to prevent such smaller coin from resting upon the bottom of the receptacle in a position in which it might obstruct the backward rocking of the operating-lever, a short rib c5 is provided upon the lever, said rib being of the general nature ofthe forward ange '03, whereby the smaller coin seats upon said rib c5 and is confined between fianges c3, and thus carried by theleverin its rocking movement. The operating-lever combines with the plate CL3 and the anges c3 to produce a coinraceway. For an authorized person to obtain the deposited coin, it is onlynecessary for him to withdraw the lever from the receptacle, whereby the coin becomes readily accessible. Asuitableguide-strip E, secured to the plate a3 and extending from the forward wall of the coin-slot in the cover to a point sufficiently near the operating-lever, serves to guide the coin to its seat. Normally the lever is locked against the above-mentioned withdrawal. To effect this, there is pivoted upon the plate 0.3 a latch F, whose forward end is weighted, as at f, to cause its nose f to normally lie in anopening c6 in the lower portion of the forward flange c3, the said opening being of suticient size to permit the necessary rocking of the lever on its pivot notwithstanding its engagement by the nose f'. A stop-pin al@ upon the plate d3 lies in position to be engaged by the lower edge of the latch F when the same is in its normal locking position, and just below the line in which this lower latch edge normally lies and slightly in therear of the forward edge of the latch there is provided an elongated slot a in the plate as. Thelatch can thus be engaged and rocked by a suitable tool inserted through said -slot et, and the operating-lever being thus freed it can be withdrawn from the casing. The tool beingthen removed, the latch falls against the stop-pin and is in position to again vengage the operatnglever upon its reinsertion.

In order to provide for throwing the latches B to relock the lids after the same have been closed, the front wallof the receptacle is provided with a series of openings cl2, each of which lies in line with the lower arm of one of the latch-levers. A suitable tool pushed into one of these openings engages a latch B and throws the same into locking engagement with the lid-hook.

The tool heretofore mentioned is illustrated IOO IIO

in Fig. 9. It is ymerely a plate H, having one end 7i of a size to enter the openings cl2 and provided upon its other end with a back- Wardly-'extending hook 7L'. YVhen the tool is held against a plate a3, with its hook h in the sloten, an upward pull upon the tool `causes the hook to engage'and rock the latch F.

` Preferabl'ythe hook-carryingend ot' the toolis of such width with relation to the distance between the slots ct and the front wall of the receptacle that when the tool is laidagainst the desired plate a3, with its edge against the front wall of the receptacle, and is then slid down- Wardly the hook is guided into the slot au.

The several compartments of the receptacle being filled and the lids being closed and locked, the purchaser deposits his coin throughv the coin-slotin one of the lids. This coin seats upon the operating-lever, as heretofore explained, and the leveris then thrown by the purchaser. This releases the lid,

` which immediately opens, and the contained package or other article to be vended is slightlyraised,whereby it can be conveniently grasped and withdrawn by the purchaser. The lid remains open, oreven should the purchaser close it it will not be locked, but will fly back into open position as soon as pressure is removed from it. At the propertime the proprietor or other authorized person Vis- `-its the apparatus, extracts the coin, as previously described,reinserts the operating-lever, refills the receptacle, and closes and locks the lid, when the apparatus is again ready for vending purposes.

I am aware that many minor changes'in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts ot this device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without-in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention. l

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In an apparatus of the character indicated, the combination with a locking mechanism including a latch, and a pivoted locking-dog normally holding said latch in locking position, of an operating-lever having a camsurface adapted to engage the under surface of said dog when said lever is operated and to thus cause said dog to ride upon said cam and thereby throw the dog into inoperative position with relation to said latch; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character indicated, the combination with a locking mechanism including a latchV and a locking-dog, said dog normally holding the latch in locking position, ot' an operating-lever operating in the plane of one of said members of said locking mechanism lying in its path, and, through the medium of the coin, upon the other member of said locking mechanism; substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus ot' the character indicated,- the combination with a locking mechanism including a latch and a locking-dog, said dog normally holdingr the latch in locking position, of an operating-lever operating in the plane of one of the said members of said locking mechanism, and means on said lever for carrying a deposited coin, whereby, when said lever is actuated, it operates directly upon the member of the locking meehanism lying in its path, and, through the medium of the coin, upon the other member of. said locking mechanism; substantially as described. f

4. ln an apparatus 'of the character indicated, the combination with a lockingmechanism including al latch, and a locking-dog Anormally holding said latch in locking position, said latch and locking-dog lying in dierent planes, of an operating-lever lying in the plane of one of said latch members and having provision for carrying a deposited coin in the plane of the other of said latch members,

IOC

said dog into inoperative position, and means upon said lever for carrying a deposited coin in the plane of said latch, whereby, in the movement of said lever, said latch'isengaged and operated 4bysaid coin; substantially as described.

J6. In an apparatus of the character indicated, the combination with a locking mechanism including a latch having a notch therein whereby a shoulder is produced, and a dog which in its normal position lies in the path of the shoulder and locks the latch in a closed position, ot means for movingvthe dog past the shoulder into a position in line with said notch, and opening the, latch; substantially as described.

7. In a coin-controlled mechanism or the like, a plate, an operating-lever, and danges uponsaid lever and between said lever and plate, and having'provision to wholly support a deposited coin, said flanges also serving to space said lever from said plate, whereby a coin-raceway is produced; substantially as described.

8. In a coin-controlled mechanism or the like, an operating-lever adapted to be withdrawn from the apparatus, means for lock- IIO "and for unlocking the sanne to permit its said withdrawal, and means upon said lever for engaging a deposited coin, whereby said coin is withdrawn with said lever; substantially yas described.

9. v'Inan apparatus of the character indi-v ,V cated,'a casing having a pivot member, an op- 'erating-lever having a coperating pivot member, said lever being,r adapted to be withdrawn from said casing, and said pivot members being in separable engagement with each other to permit said withdrawal, and means for locking said lever in the easing with said pivot members in operative engagement and for unlocking said lever to permit its said withdrawal; substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the character indicated, a casing provided with a pivot-pin, an operating-lever adapted to be withdrawn from said easing and having a notch adapted to receive said pin when said lever is inserted into said casing, and means for locking said lever in normal,'operative position and for4 unlocking the same to permit its said withdrawal; substantially as described. t Y 11. In an apparatus of the character indicated, anv operating-lever adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, and a latch engaging said lever and locking the same in normal operaan operating-lever, and a latch therefor, said plate having a slot therein through which access can be had to said latch for operating the same; substantially as described.

14. In an apparatus of the character indicated and having a part adapted'to be locked, a latch for locking said part, and means for throwing said latch into unlocking position, said casing having an opening therein through which access can be had to said latch for throwing the same into locking position; substantially as described.

l5. In a coin-controlled mechanism or the like, an operating-lever, means whereby said lever is adapted to carry a deposited coin in position for operating the mechanism, and means upon said lever for supporting a coin of smaller diameter than that'designed to operate said mechanism and in a position beyond the seat for said proper coin; substantially as described.

16. In a coin-controlled mechanism or the like, an operatngdever having seat members thereon adapted to form a seat for a proper deposited coin but to pass between thema coin of smaller diameter than that of said proper coin, and a seat upon saidV lever for` said smaller coin, whereby said smaller coin is supported upon said lever but does not interfere with the seating ot a proper coin; substantially as described. i 17. In a coin-controlled mechanism or the like, an operating-lever having front and rear flanges thereon adapted to form a seat for a proper deposited coin but to pass between them a coin of smaller diameter than that of said proper coin`,jand a seat upon said lever for said smaller coin, whereby said smaller coin is supported upon said lever but does not interfere with the seating of a proper coin; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my signature, .in the presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of July, 1901.

`HARRY J. SHALLER. 

